• Loading stock data...
Saturday, October 5, 2024
The Best Employers in Sports survey is now open! Take the survey

Charles Barkley Draws Interest of Execs—and Stephen A. Smith

  • Charles Barkley was a hot topic at the Front Office Sports Tuned In summit.
  • TNT Sports rivals ESPN and NBC are interested in poaching the TV analyst.
Imagn Images

Charles Barkley wasn’t at the Front Office Sports Tuned In summit Tuesday, but the Basketball Hall of Famer and superstar TV analyst was at the center of everyone’s minds in the midtown Manhattan event.

Top executives from ESPN and NBC—two of the three companies set to pay the NBA $76 billion for media rights over the next decade-plus—said during onstage interviews Tuesday morning they would be extremely interested in hiring Barkley if he were ever available to sign away from TNT Sports, which is entering the final year of its NBA contract.

“That would be a perfect world,” said Burke Magnus, ESPN’s president of content, when asked whether his network would want to hire Barkley. “The entire industry is interested in Charles. He’s really that special.” NBCUniversal Media Group chairman Mark Lazarus echoed Magnus. “If he were to be available, certainly we’d be talking to him,” he said.

The love for Barkley wasn’t contained to network executives. Superstar ESPN personality Stephen A. Smith said during a later interview session that working with Barkley would be a “dream come true.”

The Chuck Roller Coaster

Last month, Barkley and TNT Sports released a statement reaffirming his intentions to continue working for the company, despite his announcement in June he would retire after the upcoming NBA season.

In 2022, Barkley flirted with LIV Golf, entertaining a potentially enormous contract offer to end his basketball broadcasting career to join the PGA Tour’s rival circuit. He ultimately re-signed with TNT Sports, agreeing to a 10-year, $210 million extension.

This year, Barkley has been critical of TNT Sports parent company Warner Bros. Discovery, particularly the leadership of CEO David Zaslav. “It just sucks right now,” Barkley said of the morale surrounding TNT Sports this spring. He later criticized NBA owners for prioritizing “money over fans.”

Barkley has said he can get out of his TNT Sports contract if the company doesn’t have NBA rights. So, a potential free-agent bidding war is not out of the realm of possibility next year.

Linkedin
Whatsapp
Copy Link
Link Copied
Link Copied

What to Read

NBA Media’s Changing of the Guard

Among other issues, networks are trying to figure out a post-LeBron coverage plan.

Charles Barkley Expanding Media Empire

Round Mound Media will produce more sports and cultural projects.

Creator Commentary Instead of Romo and Nantz? YouTube Hints at NFL Future

YouTube might soon take alternate broadcasts to another level.
podcast thumbnail mobile
Front Office Sports Today

The FOS Interview: NBA Champion Matt Barnes

0:00

Featured Today

MLB Gets the Shohei Ohtani Postseason Treatment. The Value Is Immense

The Japanese superstar finally makes his playoff debut Saturday.
The Cal mascot, Oski
October 2, 2024

How the Calgorithm Turned College Football Twitter Into Real Life

“College GameDay” makes its first trip to Berkeley on Saturday.
Apr 8, 2022; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA; The cleats of Philadelphia Phillies right fielder Bryce Harper (3) as he runs the bases against the Oakland Athletics during the seventh inning at Citizens Bank Park.
October 1, 2024

MLB Players Are Clamoring for Swag. Outfitting Them Is Big Business

Sliding mitts, cleats, and belts are fun, flashy, and lucrative.
Sep 25, 2024; Los Angeles, California, USA; San Diego Padres right fielder Fernando Tatis Jr. (23) celebrates after hitting a solo home run in the fifth inning against the Los Angeles Dodgers at Dodger Stadium.
September 30, 2024

The Padres’ Future Is on the Line This Postseason

The MLB playoffs could determine the team’s path forward.

Wild-Card Round Sets Ratings Record

The Mets and Brewers helped drive ESPN to record wild-card TV audiences.
September 27, 2024

Cowboys-Giants on Amazon Is Most-Streamed Reg Season NFL Game

Cowboys-Giants averaged 16.22M viewers on Amazon Prime.
exclusive
September 30, 2024

Schefter Could Succeed Woj As NBA Insider

Schefter is ESPN’s senior NFL insider. Sources say he’s a candidate to add NBA reporting.
Sponsored

Trend Report: Chiefs-Chargers, Tobacco Road Rivalry, Nebraska Sellout Streak

According to data from TickPick, some games this week will prove to be wallet-busters, climbing into the four figures.
September 27, 2024

Cowboys No Longer No. 1 TV Draw

Dallas dominated ratings wars for decades, but the trend has shifted.
September 26, 2024

Why Did ESPN Lay Off Zach Lowe?

The highly respected NBA writer was paid a seven-figure salary.
September 25, 2024

Return of ‘The Sports Reporters’

The show initially aired on Sunday mornings from 1988 to 2017.
September 24, 2024

Shams Drawing Interest From NBC, Amazon

The NBA insider has his share of suitors, but The Athletic isn’t conceding.